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Related

Freescale RoadTest review

Former Member
Former Member over 15 years ago
Hi all,

 

So I finally received my ev-kit and can start reviewing the stuff.

 

I will add more posts while progressing.

 

Some images first.

 

The box:

image

 

First when you open the box you see the packing list:

image

 

When you take away the papers etc. and lift the top foam you can see the hardware itself:

image

 

HW is pretty simple. A bag with a mini-B USB lead and another with the evaluation hw:

image

Here is the hardware itself:

image

 

The FTDI USB to serial can be seen on the bottom:

image

 

Here is the accelerometer itself disconnected from the board:

image

 

And here is its backside, although not very interesting:

image

 

Paperwork includes tech support information in addition of the packing list:

image

 

a warranty registration form:

image

 

a quick start guide:

image

 

and a cd with the FTDI drivers, ev software and attached documents etc:

image

 

The quick start guide is one sheet folded so the contents are not too extensive:
image

 

There is a simple introduction:
image

 

A "clear" flowchart which is immensely useful for a quick start guide:

image

 

And then some software installation instructions:

image

 

Finally here is Tiger (not included in the ev-kit) coming to check out if it is his turn to play with the contents of the kit (it wasn't):

image

 

The autorun of the CD opens a html page with links to the drivers on the CD and documents and related online links:

image

 

It also contains the infamous introductory video of the kit. While the image quality is not horrible the cameraman must have been evaluating a kit meanwhile as the image is shaky during the whole video image

 

Ok, off to install the drivers for the FTDI (Windows update found them automatically) and the software itself.

 

No problem with the installation and detection of the device:

 

image


Cool, let's start the thing and see what it can show me...

 

What the... *cencored*

 

image

 

 

Hmm ok maybe I won't try the demo...

 

Dunno what caused the issue, maybe the OS (Windows 7 x64 Ultimate) but it seems to be a NOGO for the moment.

 

Well let's see if a Virtual XP installation will do a better job image

 

I will keep you posted, attached also the details of the error.

 

 

Elias Sajo

Attachments:
error.txt.zip
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  • obones
    obones over 15 years ago

    That's most likely because you have a 64bit OS.
    From the error message (invalid format) it seems the driver is trying to load a 32 bit DLL which is not compatible with a 64bit .Net process

    Usually, when I get this, I have to ask the software vendor to provide the DLL in a 64bits version as well.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 15 years ago

    Quick updates, I did indeed get the software running normally in Virtual PC with XP.

     

    I did not remember to take screenshots though.

     

    A couple of observations:

     

    With the first try of the scope function everything worked normally, except I got off the chart positive Z values (40G's) when moving the board upwards quickly.

     

    I ran the scope demo again and this did not happen.

     

    In the scope demo you have the threshold lines and I noticed it was impossible to get the lines to go above the "shake" threshold which is 1.3G's, no matter how fast I tried to shake it.

    After this I smacked it against my hand a couple of times to see if I hit the limit then and after some tries this did happen.

    Weird thing was that after this I could also get it above the limit by shaking it normally so I did not have to use excessive force anymore.

     

    As the demo does not provide raw values it is hard to tell if this is caused by the SW or the HW.

     

    If the latter this can be a issue with the MEMS parts if sensitivity seems to be low in the beginning and using more force a couple of times returns it.

     

    Otherwise not too much to say about the demo, very very simple demonstration.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 15 years ago in reply to obones

    Olivier: that is very likely the cause, although it should not happen during these days anymore in my opinion.

     

    Thanks for your input.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 15 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Hi all,

     

    Well after tinkering around with the kit I think I have my conclusion.

     

    It is a nice little kit but as others have said for a hobbyist only the MMA chip itself on a breakout makes more sense.

    I think the scope of this kit is for a developement manager to take a look at and if they find it good they toss the breakout part to the engineers to work with.

    Or for a Freescale sales person to show the capabilities of the chip to other manufacturers.

    I think that about covers it.

     

     

    Elias

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